Electrical connecter



Feb. 16, 1932. G. HERBSTER ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed July 18, 1929 INVENTOR A4410 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I GEORGE HEBBE'IIB, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BAUER IGNITION GOHPANY, CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO ELECTRICAL CONNECT'EB Application filed my 18,

My invention is an improvement in terminal connecters for electrical conductors and relates more specifically to a detachable connccter for electrically connecting a conductor ll and terminal post.

Heretofore connections between conductors or wires and terminal posts have been made by looping the wire end about the post and securing the wire in place by means of a nut.

Connections are also made by passing the wire through an opening in the post and securing it by set screw operating on the post.

The more usual form of connections, however,

is the use of a flat metal strip or in secured to the end of the wire and providec with an opening or slot which engages the post. This lug or strip in turn is secured in close contact with the 0st, or a shoulder of the post, by

the use 0 a threaded nut which screws onto the post.

All such connecters however have a tendency to become loose or disengaged, due to vibration of the apparatus on which they are used, or to a strain on the wire. Furthermore, more time is consumed in making such connections, and generally two hands and tools are required to make such connections with any degree of security. Another defect of such connections is that the rigidity with which they are formed by the devices mentioned, subjects the wire itself to bending stresses, which cause it to deteriorate or break with the consequent danger arising from severed connections.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and easily constructed device which will make such a connection, without the use of tools or loss of time, yet will remain secure under adverse conditions.

Another object is to provide adevice which can be used on plain, threaded or grooved posts and which will provide a large area in contact with the post.

A further object is to provide an attachment that cannot be pulled oil from the post unless by force so great as to break the conductor itself, and one which is bound to the wire so that it is practically an integral part thereof.

Another object of my invention is to make 1929. Serial No. 379,120.

a secure and firm but resilient connection which will permit relative rotary movement of the connector about the 0st without loosening the connection, and w ichwill also relieve strains on the conductor.

Other purposes and advanta es of my in vcntion will become apparent %rom the fol lowing description of several embodiments thereof, in WlllCh reference is made to the accompanying drawings by the use of numerals, the same numerals representing the sameparts in the various viewsv In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan View of one form of my invention showing the connecter engaging the terminal post.

Fig. 2 isa similar plan showing the connecter disengaged and ready for removal.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the connecter shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the connecter partly in section shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of still another form of my invention, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of the form of my invention shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 9. terminal post 1 is shown provided with horizontal grooves. A head comprising a pair of cooperating contact jaws 2 and 3 is provided with an opening 4: preferably located so that its central axis lies in the line of division of the adjacent surfaces 5 and 5a of the contact jaws 2and 3 when the same are in contact. Means are provided to close thejaws 2 and 3 about the post 1, and in the presentembodiment comprises split ring springs 6 and 7 seated in the grooves 8 formed in the outer surface of the respective jaws 2 and 3. The jaws 2 and 3 are provided with arms 9 and 10 respectively preferably formed integral with the jaws 2 and 3. These arms are pivotally connected as at 11. One of the arms designated 10 is flattened toward the end so as to form flanges 12 and 13, which may be clamped about the conductor 14 to secure it to the arm 10.

Electrical contact between the conductor and arm is attained, as is also greater security, by means of the openings 15 and 16 in arm 10, through which the wire is passed and bent back and soldered. The arms 9 and 10 are formed so that, as they are pressed together, they will force the jaws 2 and 3 apart, but will themselves come into contact before the faces 5 and 5a of the contact jaws are spread suificiently far apart to permit them to be moved radially from the post. This prevents further spreading of the jaws, yet allows the jaws 2 and 3 to move relatively apart a sufficient distance to enlarge the smallest diameter of the opening 4 to a size slightly greater than the largest diameter of the post 1, so that the head may be lifted axially from the post.

It should be understood that posts of various cross section can be used and the shape of the opening l varied to correspond with the same. Cross sectional shapes of the posts and the forms of myinvention here shown are used only for the purposes of illustration.

By fastening the wire to the arms 9 or 10 at a point somewhat removed from the post 1 an axial lift on the contact jaws 2 and 3 is prevented when a pull is applied on a wire 7 parallel to the post 1.

The resiliency of the arms 9 and 10 and the binding springs 7 and 8 tend to relieve a sudden jerk on the wire, which might otherwise cause it to snap or break. The fact that the connection is free to turn peripherally about the post and yet maintain a firm contact over a large area prevents weakening of the wire, due to doubling back and kinking.

The faces 5 and 5a of the jaws 2 and 3 may be formed so that portions of the opening 4 contact with the post and grip it firmly while the faces 5 and 5a remain very slightly separated.

. Fig. 5 shows another form of my invention in which the arms 17 and 18 are formed with inwardly extending rockers 19 and 20 to provide-a fulcrum for the jaws 21 and 22. It

loop 30, to one end of which the wire is connected in the same manner as in the previously mentioned forms. This loop is so formed that an axial pull on the wire is radial to the post and draws the jaw 26 more tightly against the post. The other jaw 27 is provided with a grip 31. To remove this connecter from the post the jaw 26 is forced away from the post by pushing the loop 30 toward the post. While the jaw 26 is somewhat removed from .thepost 1, the grip 31 is caught between the fingers and held, so that 26and 27 remain relatively apart, the opening 28 being enlarged sufficiently so that the head of the connecter may be lifted axially from'the post.

It isto be understood that I do not intend to limit my invention to the forms and means portion extending in the plane of the'finger grip .and enclosing the. same, and contractible means on the jaws to normally grip the jaws about the terminal post.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

GEORGE I-IERBSTER.

will be notedthat by means of the rockers 19 and 20 the fulcrum point is variable in a line radial to the post 1. Contact of the arms at 23 limits the extent to which the contact jaws 21 and 22 can be separated. In this embodiment of my invention the springs 2 1 and 25, similar to springs 7 and 8 in Figs. 1

to 4, normally hold the jaws together to form the head, and to clamp the jaws to the post. The wire is secured to one of these arms, shown as arm 18, in the same manner as wire 14 is secured to the arm 10 in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

,Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of the jaws 26 and 27 in which the springs 28 and 29 perform the same functions as the springs 24 and 25 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, and draw the jaws 26 and 27 relatively together. In this arrangement, the jaw 26. of the head is provided'with arms forming a 

